Hi guys -

In a bit of a spot here! Drove most of the way down to Stratford this afternoon, after a successful visit to Brum, when the car overheated because it lost all its water. Got it towed to The Stratford Limes Hotel, Stratford, CV37 7AS, where it is now gracing their car park and we are trying to work out what to do next. In terms of what we planned to do, it's a disaster.

If there is anyone local who would be generous enough to pop in to the hotel and help me to sort it out, whatever might be needed, I would be immensely grateful. Frankly, I have no idea how I'm going to get this resolved, unless it's a perished hose that can be fixed.

Any help for Sunday would be brilliant - Thanks.

Hi Enforcer
Are you in a Coupe?
I have a couple of hoses from a 20v NA and I am only 10 miles away in Alcester.

Mike

Hi Mike - and thanks for the quick response.

I'm in the trusty steed, yes. 20VT. The thing is, I'm not yet sure what's broken. When I top up the bottle I get a stream of water coming down from the back of the undertray, driver's side. Under the reservoir bottle, but a bit further back.

Pm'd you

Hope you get sorted Brian, sounds possibly like a CHOD

Go on - what's a CHOD?

I was thinking the CHOD too

Brian, it's what we call a Coolant Hose Of Death as it's a coolant hose that usually loses water quickly when it fails and causes overheating which can damage the engine.

Could be CHOD failure. Long "L" shaped coolant hose running from thermostat at right side of engine then around the back and along to rear/left side. Usually fails at the bend or sometimes where the hose clips are compressing it.

Quite tricky to change due to limited access (strut brace will need removed if you have one), but doable in under an hour.

If you're lucky someone nearby will have changed to silicone hoses and kept the old CHOD.

If you were still around first thing Monday Brian it might be worth bearing in mind that you are less than 30 miles from Joe's at FCSS in Upton on Severn....

He's very likely to have a CHOD in stock if that's what's needed.

Thanks everyone - as always, the FCCUK forum is the place to be, and I appreciate everyone's willingness to help. Thanks! I'll be at this hotel until Wednesday morning.

The bottom line is that I am now ready to let go of my beloved Coupe, owned for 11 years, so if anyone would like it they are welcome to come and get it. All I ask is that they pay for me to get back home, in Abergele. My long weekend has been utterly [cloud9], frankly, and I'm ready to move on. My brother in Bristol, who has Down's, and was depending on me visiting in the week, will have to be told I'm not going to make it. A true bummer.

Brian, if Joe's around he can fix it quickly; if not he can supply the part and any garage can fix. It's not a reason to give the car away...

Neil the danger here is if it's over heated badly it might well of cooked the rings loosing compression.

True... it occurred to me after I posted. Wasn't trying to commit you, by the way (sorry about that!)

My my this is a sad thread.

Do you think you cooked it Brian?

If not it's an easy fix I think,unless the block has a major(unseen) hole in it. Which I very much doubt.

I can see you are feeling a bit bad about it all at the moment,but I'm sure help is at hand and you will get it sorted.

Thanks.

Mike from Alcester has already been over to look at it, and we agree that it needs to be taken away for attention. Joe has come back to me with an arrangement, so it is all done and dusted. I'll be saying goodbye on Wednesday. Sad, but inevitable, I think.

Thanks again everyone. This forum is to die for. My beloved coupe agrees.

This is very sad news Brian but I can appreciate right now at the time you had the commitment to seeing your brother that it's a way to direct your frustration. Hopefully you'll still make it down to Bristol albeit briefly and something good will crop up in the near future - forward and up and all that....

Over the years many of us including myself have suffered severe blows to our P&J's but remarkably, as you say thanks to this forum, many have enjoyed a new lease of life (and that's something I can testify to )

Anyhow even if coupe-less you don't need to leave our merry gang of reactionaries

Sorry to read the news that after all this time of Coupe ownership, you're getting rid of it
I know visiting your brother was important, but surely a vehicle breakdown like this isn't a reason to give up on it?

This could have happened with any car

Either way, looks like you've made your decision. I hope you still manage to get to see your brother while you're there though and that things turn out well.

Please stay around on the forum, even if you won't have a Coupe any more!

I appreciate all the supportive pleas not to get rid, but it seems that the engine has been well and truly fried, as I couldn't even start it yesterday. Rather odd, as it started easily when we got it to the hotel.

The fact is that it had become unreliable. Every long journey was a worry, and there was no specific thing that needed fixing or replacing. It's old.

A very fair point, Brian.

Sorry Enforcer - only just seen this - I'm in Coventry but work in Warwick so not far. If you need a lift anywhere etc. just shout.

That's very kind, Nello. I've booked my train tickets, though, so more or less sorted. I just need to get to S-u-A station by 10:00am. I certainly wouldn't ask you to come all the way over here just for that. Very, very kind of you, though, so many thanks.

No problem - I would've got you but Nights currently so only just saw your reply as well! Although things don't sound too great - hope you get it all sorted though.

It's all sorted now, thanks, Nello.

I just want to mention that each of the wonderful people who has contacted me about this has been overwhelmingly generous and giving, each in his or her own way.

It is a very moving experience, I have to say.

Thanks!!

An update on Brian's Coupe issues, vehicle was delivered to me this evening and is back up and running after fitting a new ignition maxi fuse, cranking sounds normal so I'll be running a compression test before the weekend to diagnose whether the overheating has effected or fried the rings, from there I'll fit a new CHOD, coolant and this Coupe will be up for auction on Fleabay, proceeds will be going to a very good cause so a post with link will follow.

Nice one Joe

Update on Brian's Coupe, it's now up for sale if anyone is looking for a project.

Enforcer's Sprint Blue 20vt for sale.

The link isn't working Joe

Thanks Jim